Actor George Gaynes died Monday, February 15, 2016. TV fans will remember Gaynes as the curmudgeonly foster and eventually adoptive father, Henry Warnimont, on the Punky Brewster TV series. Punky Brewster, along with Silver Spoons, was famously cancelled by NBC in 1986, only to be revived in first-run syndication through 1988. Gaynes and Soleil Moon Frye also voiced their characters on the animated Punky Brewster TV series, sometimes referred to as It’s Punky Brewster.
The New York Times confirmed Gaynes passed away at daughter Iya Gaynes Falcone Brown’s North Bend, Washington home. In addition to his daughter and her family, Gaynes leaves behind his wife of more than 62 years, actress Allyn Ann McLerie, a regular on The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd. Gaynes was predeceased by son, Matthew, in 1989.
Although Gaynes is best remembered for film roles in Tootsie and the Police Academy franchise, his television credits are extensive. Many are for one-off roles on TV series such as The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Bonanza, Hawaii 5-0, Columbo, The Six Million Dollar Man, and more.
His last TV appearance was as the character Old Quinn Mallory, in 1999, on the Sliders TV show. Gaynes played an aged version of star Jerry O’Connell’s character, Quinn Mallory. FOX ran Sliders for three seasons then cancelled it. The Sci-Fi Channel (now Syfy) picked it up for two more seasons
Soap fans will remember the actor as the first Frank Smith on ABC‘s General Hospital. This mob kingpin was the nemesis of Luke Spencer (Tony Geary) and the predecessor of current Port Charles mob boss Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard).
Gaynes’ previous soap work included the role of Sam Reynolds in the early 1970s, on the CBS soap, Search for Tomorrow. When CBS cancelled Search in 1982, Procter & Gamble shopped the serial to NBC, which broadcast the show until its 1986 cancellation.
His first TV appearance was on NBC’s Television Opera Theatre TV series, in 1955. According to NYT, Gaynes first trained as an opera singer and after WWII, joined the New York City Opera. Regarding his change in careers, the paper quotes Gaynes as saying, “I was an acting opera singer, and that’s one of the reasons I left opera.”
Gaynes played Max Vincent in Rich Man, Poor Man, Book II. He recurred on Hearts Afire, starring John Ritter and Markie Post. He also recurred as Arthur Feldman on The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd; where wife McLerie was a regular. She likewise recurred on Punky Brewster.
Via social media, Soleil Moon Frye, who starred as Punky Brewster opposite Gaynes, has shared some memories of her former co-star.
From Twitter:
The universe just gained a gigantic star. You will be in my heart and soul always & forever.
Your little Punky
RIP George Gaynes— soleil moon frye (@moonfrye) February 17, 2016
On Instagram, Frye shared an old photo of the two, accompanied by this message:
When I reflect on some of the most joyous moments in my life, they were shared with this incredible man.
The universe just gained a gigantic star. You will be in my heart and soul always & forever.
Your little Punky
RIP George Gaynes
Love to your family.
Here is an interview with Gaynes where he discusses his vast and varied career, including his time in Broadway musicals.
Gaynes was born George Jongejans in Finland, on May 16, 1917. His Dutch and Russian parents reared him in France, England, and Switzerland. After moving to the US, Gaynes became a citizen. You are invited to share your memories of Mr. Gaynes, below.
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